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info from anyone that used PECS

my daughter is almost three
she has little speech
she has therapists coming to the home
her speech therapist does not know sign and when i asked about PECS she admitted that she has made in the past, but "i spent so much time on them and then the kids lose them or the parents do not use" etc etc etc , complain, excuses, lazy
needless to say not thrilled with the speech therapist, but you get what you get in a small town and will only have her for two more months, than daughter is three and this program is over

so, i am going to try to make a pecs communication system on my own (with my sister helping) where do i start, have looked on internet for ideas

do i start with kitchen food items? everyday scheduled things we do?=ex. time for bed? do i make with velcro on felt board OR make with magnets? photographs or abstract colored pics?

We used PECS at home for food items - we laminated them with clear contact paper and put a magnet on the back and kept them on the fridge (the snack ones of things he could have anyway). For a daily schedule I always found it easier to use velcro, but that's just me. We started out with photographs because they were more concrete (for the food items, I just cut out a piece of the box that showed the food item), then moved to pictures of things (www.do2learn.com is a great resource for pecs!). You may have to try a couple different things to see what works for your daughter. You can get basic signs online - a combination of a lot of different communication strategies helped my son.

Yeah what missanc said. We got a folder and attached velcro strips in it. Then his teacher made the little cards for it and laminated them. On the front of the folder is a single velcro strip where he can put the cards. Use the most common things first such as food items, toilet, favorite toys. ETC.

Oh and tell your therapist that you want to try PECS and offer to help make it if she will at least tell you what you need to do. Actually since she is getting paid for her services she needs to make one if you request it. NO EXCUSES. If she refuses go to her boss and request it. When you have a child with autism you really have to advocate for them. Even if it means being a b**** to get what you want. You'll learn the ropes soon enough and yes they will make you jump through hoops to get it.